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Takween

Jessica Abou Haidar

Strategic Brand Designer - Communications Consultant

Interfaith Dialogue advocate - Spiritual Director

I am a strategic designer, and a communications and media consultant, dedicated to crafting solutions that create social impact and serve the common good. With a passion for listening, training, and skill building, I thrive on challenges, consistently finding innovative and practical ways to address complex problems.

My expertise in branding, design, media, and digital strategy is complemented by a lifelong commitment to faith and society. Having worked extensively with faith-based and interfaith organizations, I firmly believe in the power of faith to unite people from diverse backgrounds, celebrate common values, and foster peace.

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Expertise

Branding & Comms Consultancy

I craft and align brand identities with business goals through in-depth analysis, market insights, and strategic design solutions. By integrating branding and communication strategies with organizational objectives, I help businesses grow and connect meaningfully with their audiences.

Digital Marketing

I help organizations achieve their marketing objectives by developing data-driven digital strategies that maximize the impact of online platforms. Through tailored approaches across social media, email, web-based content, and search engine marketing, to drive growth and engagement.

Graphic Design

I design cohesive visual identities that communicate brand values and resonate with target audiences. Through thoughtful use of typography, imagery, color, and form, I craft visual solutions that enhance brand perception across all touchpoints.

Startup & Business Planning

With more than 10 years of experience in the field, and multiple regional and international awards in entrepreneurship and business planning, I assist business owners in developing their business idea, researching the market, and testing the feasibility of their project. All this work can also serve as grounds for a solid branding strategy.

Collaborations

Resume

Since 2004, I have pursued academic studies in two fields: branding, design, and art direction; as well as biblical studies, theology, and spiritual direction. Currently, I am expanding my expertise through studies in Global Media and Digital Cultures, with a focus on the dynamics between media, politics, diplomacy, social change, development, and identity across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. I am a fellow and alumna of several interfaith and cultural dialogue organizations, both regional and international, and a member of the Women Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon. Over the years, I have received multiple awards in design, social entrepreneurship, and business planning and development. In 2011, I founded “Takween,” where I develop communication, brand strategies, and digital marketing solutions for faith-based, interfaith, and humanitarian organizations.

Milestones

2023 - 2025

SOAS, University of London

MA in Global Media and Digital Cultures

This MA offers critical grounded knowledge of global media and digital cultures in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with a focus on the dynamics between media and politics and diplomacy, media and social/political change, media and development, media and conflict, media and representation, and media and identities.

2023 - Current

WPNL

The Women’s Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon - Member

The Women’s Peacebuilding Network in Lebanon (WPNL) brings together women peacebuilders committed to inclusive and sustainable peace. The network aims to amplify women’s contributions to peacebuilding in Lebanon, and strengthen its members’ leadership and participation through learning, exchange of expertise and networking.

2021 - 2022

eDin

Participant in the UNAOC & UNCCT interfaith pilot program

eDin is a peer-to-peer capacity-building training between young religious leaders and young media makers by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the Office of Counter-Terrorism. The project focuses on using religion and interfaith dialogue on social media to defuse sectarian tensions, to counter extremist and hateful narratives and to promote social cohesion.

2019 - Current

KAICIID - Vienna

KAIICID Dialogue center fellowship

Became a KAICIID Fellow; a program that brings together leaders from various religions from around the world for training in dialogue facilitation, intercultural communication, and promoting social cohesion.

2018 - 2018

ADYAN Foundation

Adyan - Media for Diversity and Coexistence

Seminar to share experiences in working towards Inclusive citizenship, countering violent extremism and setting communication plans for religious institutions.

2017 - 2018

University of Saint Joseph

Diploma in Spiritual Direction

2014 - 2015

University of Saint Joseph

Theology basics diploma - CREDO

2014 - 2019

Exodus

Founder of Exodus Trade company

Exodus is a trading company, specialized in exporting organic lebanese goods to the E.U. Exodus also manages the product launch events, sales strategy and promotion in the host countries.

2012 - 2012

U.S. Department of State

U.S.A - IVLP exchange visitor program

The U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program; the International Visitor Leadership Program. Through short-term visits to the USA, current and emerging foreign leaders create a professional network with people they meet.

2012 - 2013

Swedish Institute

SHE entrepreneurs program

A program that focuses on young women social entrepreneurs in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sweden. The program runs for one year and provides participants with tools to develop a social project for sustainable change.

2012 - Current

Takween

Founder and Creative Director

Initiated and founded Takween (Arabic for; Genesis). Takween is a branding, strategy, and communications consultancy house dedicated to creating a positive impact in the Lebanese society, that is why we mainly work with Startups, Social Entreprises, NGOs, Interfaith Organizations, and Religious Entities. The Studio offers Training, Consultancy, and Implementation services in the fields of: Branding & Corporate Identity, Design & Media Production, Illustration, Web and Social Media Marketing.

2010 - Current

Kalimat Hayat

Servant Leader and Co-Founder

Word of Life (Kalimat Hayat) is a spiritual training group that aims to the personal development of young individuals; we train about communication skills, leadership, team development etc. all from a biblical perspective. We create large-scale events that promote knowledge about the Holy Bible. I am currently the servant/leader of the group.

2009 - 2010

2 design awards

Web Awards

Two awards won; for www.donnersangcompter.org - the Lebanese Web Award for best strategic website for an NGO and for www.craft-lebanon.com - the Silver Pan Arab web award for best website for an NGO.

2007 - 2009

ALBA - University of Balamand

Masters in Art Direction

2007 - 2012

Bug Studios Ltd.

Managing Partner and Creative Director

Co-founded Bug Studios s.a.r.l. A young design agency, created by fresh creative graduates, bringing new concepts into the market. The Studio offered Branding, Graphic & Web Design, Photography & Illustration. Clients ranged from local NGOs to regional private businesses as well as governmental institutions. I managed the agency and acted as the creative director of the team.

2004 - 2007

ALBA - University of Balamand

Bachelor in Graphic Design

2001 - 2021

to present

Community volunteer

Continuously volunteering with Religious groups, Interfaith organizations, Local humanitarian and environmental NGOs, and Social and Political Movements.